Platen printing press



Se ..2 1927.` f 1642841 pt 0'* c'. H. cQcI-IFQMJEv PLATN PRINTING PRESS Filed Jams, 1925 -5 Sheets-sheet 1 FTE. l`

INVENTDR Zar/65 fac/Wah@ M75/My.

Sept. "20' 1927. Y v

C. H- COCHRANE PLATEN PRINTING PRESS Filed Jan. 9, '1925 5 Sheets-Sheet `2 A 7? 7] 5 lum/ENTER f/z'ar/@J (bd/w26 ATT Y- 2 1927. Sept 0 l c. H. cocHRANE PLTEN PRINTING PRESS 1,642,841 Sept' 201927 c. H. co'cHRANE f PLATE-N PRINTING PRESS Fild Jang;g 1925 51 sheets-sheet A5 mmf/M n.

.eP A T ENT OIF FICE C'ElaRLES H. COCHRANE, OF CHICAGOfILLINOIS.

PLATEN PRNTING PRESS.

Application iiled January 9, 1925. Serial No. 1,400.

invention relates particularly to oscilplaten p ing presses although not t alone, and involves this use mechanism for conveying successively sheets als-ten for printing and after printing the sheets from the platen7 the leet ol' the invention residing in a mechanism of this chan simple, efficient and well l est operating speeds sting an increased i press with consequent required for the printn certain features of novelty in the traction? comb nation, and arrangement rte l y which the said obgect and certain ns obi ect in view my invention eonf l as fully described with reference to ie accompanying drawings and more paf-"culariy pointed vout in the appended claims ln the said drawings- .,'ure 1 is a partial side elevation of an os llatingplaten printing press embodying vivention.

gare 2 is a partial top plan view of the is a partial section on the line 7,-, and 6 are enlarged Lpartial ,de eievation showing certain porthe mechanism as hereinafter dec ire .7 is an enlarged partial section in elevation showing certain portions of oeehanism hereinafter described. igure 8 is a partial enlarged front elevation of the oeelianisro shown in Figure?.

pure 9 s :in enla d partial. view in side elevation showing` anotherportion of the mechanism as hereinafter described.

10 a d 11 are resiloectively enial side and rear elevations of a ie mecha -ism as hereinafter deies of the press, and a second horizonshaft 3 disposed below and some distance ear of the shaft 1eXtendsacross be rames Zand is also revolubly mounted in journals in the side frames. A lorwar@lj-,fv facing platen et, disposed between the side frames7 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending arms 5 which are pivoted at their lower ends on the axis of the shaft El by means of inwardly extending bored bosses 6 on the side frames 2 surrounding the shaft 3 and engaging bores in the arms 5. See Figs. 1, 2, and 3. The platen is thus ni unted for oscillating movement on a horizontal axisdisp-osed below the same, and is oscillated to and away lfrom a stationary rearwardly facing form 7, secured between trie side frames 2 in a suitable manner, as follows. The crank shaft 1 extends outwardly of each side frame 2, and secured on respective ends of this shaft in a common radial plane is a pair of cranks 8. A transve'ce shaft 9 is secured to the platen at the 1 Aar thereof, and connecting bars 11 pivotally mounted at respective ends to the cranks a d shaft 9 whereby upon rotation of the crank shaft 1 the platen is oscillated to and from the form 7 for periodically effecting impression on the form.

The form is inked during operation of the press by means ofvinking rollers 12 mounted on a pair of carriages 13 revolubly mounted on the axis of the crank shaft 1 and disposed at respective sides of theform, the rollers being spring pressed inwardly and stationary bearers 14 being provided on either side of the forinfor positioning the rollers. The carriages 13 are rotated from a common driving member at tie front of the press, not shown, by means of identical gear trains 15 disposed between respective car es and side frames 2 whereby the rollers n transfer the ink from a suitable source, not shown', to the form.-

rglie crank shaft 1 is driven from the aforementioned driving member by means of gear train 16 disposed between one of the rs 8 and a side frame 2 whereby the i ki o rollers 12 are rotated about the form transversely spaced clamp fingers which are disposed at respective sides of the type or plate portion of the form for clamping the side edge portions of a sheet against the platen and stripping the sheet ofll the form after an impression is made thereon. A compression spring device 18 is engaged with a downwardly extending arm 19 of the sheet clanip and spring presses the sheet clamp in a direction toward the platen.

A gear 2l is revolubly mounted7 by means of a transverse shaft 22 mounted on the side frames 2 below the shaft l, and is the saine diameter as and meshes with the gear of tne gear tran 16 which is secured on the shaft 1 for driving the same. Secured with the gear il for rotation therewith is a cam 23, and a lever 24, pivotally mounted at an interi'nediate peint thereon on the adjacent side frame 2, is actuated at its upper end by the cam 23. A connecting rod 25 has its re spec'tive ends pivotally connected to the lower end of the lever 2li and the arm 19 whereby the cam 28 aeuates the sheet clamp 17 against the influence of the spring dcvice 18 in a manner hereinafter referred to.

A. feed board 26 is disposed above the platen at the rear portion of the press and is provided as usual with a side register guide 27 and front register drop guides 28 which are secured on a transverse pivotally mounted ihaft 29 whereby these drop guiees can be raised to permit the sheets to be moved forwardly ofi the feed board after registry. rlhe fro-nt register guides are spaced to enthc leading edge of a sheet 3l on the feed l'ioard adjacent respective sides thereof and cooperate with usual extensions 3:3 on the front end of the feed board, see Fig. l,

to register the sheets with the leading edges thereof proiectino` ay short distance forwardly of the front of the. feed board in order to permit gripping of the registered sheets as hereinait'tc: described.

other cam 88 is secured with the al`oremei". iones gear 2l for rotation therewith. A lever 311- is pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereon on the side frame 2 adjacent the cam 88 and is actua-ted at one end by the cam A connecting bar 85 is etally connected at opposite ends thereofI to the other end of the lever 8A and to an arm 86 secured to the shaft 29 whereby the cam actuates the shaft :29 to raise the guides 28 l. to permit them to be lowered, tension pring 87 serving to lower the guides as con- -rolled by this cam.

As hereiubefore mentioned the shaft 3 extends across between the side frames 2 and is disposed coaxially with the pivotal axis of the platen Llwhose arms 5 are journaled on tire bosses 6. Secured o-n this shaft 8 iindiately adjacent the inner ends of respective bosses 6 is a pair of identical coaxial sprockets 38 which aline with respective sidesof the platen. Secured to the platen at respective sides of the platen and extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom is a pair of brackets 89, and disposed at the upper end of the platen and alined with respective sprockets 38 is another pair of identical coaxial sprockets l-l which are revolubly mounted and carried with the platen by means of a transverse shaft l2 journaled in the brackets 39 and uponr which the sprockets l1 are secured. Another pair of identical coaxial sprockets A8 alined with respective sprockets 88 are revolubly mounted and carried with the platen to the rear of the Sprockets A1 by means of a transverse shaft 141 journaled in slide blocks l5 mounted in slides extending upwardly and rearwardly on respective brackets 39, the slide blocks being yieldably urged upwardly and rearwardly in the .slides by compression springs 4-6 in a usual manner. A pair of brackets A17 are .secured to respective arms 5 and ex* tend rearwardly therefrom, and carried. by these brackets at their rear ends by means of a transverse shaft 18 journaled in these brackets is another pair of identical coaxial sprockets 49 which are secured to this shaft in. alinenient with respective sprockets 88. Another pair of brackets 51 are secured to respective arms 5 and extend forwardly therefrom immediately above the snrockets 88, and carried by these brackets at their front ends by means of a stationary trans verse shaft 52 secured in these brackets is another pair of identical coaxial .sprockets 53 which are revolubly mounted. on this shaft in alinement with respective sprockets 38.

A pair of endless chains trl of equal length are trained over respective alined sprockets 88, l-l, 13, and 19 and. under respective sprockets 53, and by reason of the transverse disposition of the sprockets the chains are disposed for corresponding lineal closed path movement at respective sides of the platenJ the disposition of the sprockets all and 58 maintaining` the front stretch of the chains in parallelism with the face of the, platen.

A plurality of sheet gripping mean-s are mounted on the chains 54 at equally spaced intervals therealong. These gripping means are identical and embody bars 55 secured to the chains and. extending therebetween. See particularly Figs. 1, 5, 6, and 9. These bars are of flat form and are disposed in planes parallel with thepitch line of the chains on the outside of the chains so that they will clear the face of the platen at the front str-etch of the chains. Secured to the ends of the bars immediately inside of the chains and projecting outwardly from the bars are bearing members 56 in which are journaled gripper shafts 57 which extend transversely in parallelism with the bars and are disposed slightly below the edges of the bars lill) which face downwardly whenl the .bars iare at the fronti-Stretch of the chains. `Secured at intervals along the grippershafts between the bearing members .5G are V gi'ippers 58 which are-adapted toclamp sheets tagainst the outer faces of respective Vbars 55. Small gears 59 4are secured onthe ends-of the vshafts 5'?, and gear segment portions of levers Gl, pivotallyv mounted atf62 on respec- 'ifi tive bearings 5G, are engaged with the gears for operating the gripper shafts into and out of sheet clamping or .grilipingl position. The leversGl entend loutwardly from `their pivotal axes, and tension springs 63 secured to these viev rs and to respective bars. 55 serve to maintain the grippers both in the closed and open positions thereof hyxreason of their passing overuthe axis of thev levers 6l in the inoveinentef the Vlevers to open or closethe grippers. `The :opening movement of the gripper-s isv limited by 'projections-64 on the grippeis engaging respective bai-s55. Figs. '4- and 5 show `the -grippers inclosed position andgrippinga sheet 31, land Fig. 9 yshows the grippersin open position,

rThe vchains 5f-t are.intermittently actuated in one direction` i. e., the direction to move `the grippingineans fdownwardly over lthe face of the .platen il, in .timed relation with the press mechanism to .convey sheets from the r ioard 26 'don-nwardly to the platen for printing and after printing-downwardly from the platen for .discharge The means for effecting' this intermittent ymovement of CLD 1,2, l0. and ll. The cam gear 9.1 is provided with an inwardly Afacing cam groove G5, and theupper end of a lever',

iiiivotflly mounted at an intermediate point -ia GT thereon Vto the adjacent side frame 2, is

.zii which extends rearwardly therefrom under- .ih Vthe shaft 3 and is supported there- `n by a slide bearing- 69 journaled on this The rack bar 68 yfacesupwardly and Yes lwith a gear 7l journaled on lthe 9. it bored ratchet wheel 72 is secured t ar Tl, and secured on the shaft 3 jacent the ratchet wheel is an arin iupon riivotally mounted a vpawl 74 .enie ratchet wheel and-.spring pressed he toothed portion of the ratchet wheel by spring` 7 5.

Aseillation of the lever 66 hy rotation oi cani gear '71 causes reciprocationlefthe with consequent.oscillation `of 'Il and ratchet `wheel. i2. The

'72 and thefpawl .74. cooperatserve to retatethe shaft 3 .ine .ttently in one direction-.during*oscillation of the gear .7l 1 and ."ratchet .-.Wheel 1.72 v1" with consequent movenieatofz the chains #54?,

which is i as ` the chains 5st is constructed as follows. ,See

by reasonofthe sprockets 38- being secured .tothe shaft 3. Thedireetion :ofthe rotation of the shaft ',3, is Lsuoli as to Aiin-part downward movement of the chains at :the front .stretch ,thereof with ,consequent movement of fthe hereinbefore :described :gripping means, carried vby zthefchains', :downwardly over the face of the platen, andthe proportion ofthe parts is .suchthat .each `intermittent rotation fof the-shaft?) moves the chains the distance between-the gripping means.

`The. position of! the chains 54 and gripping-means ,thereon fduring the rest rperiods of :the chains is shown' iin-Figs. l. and 2, 'in .which lone ofthe gripping -means is 'disposed atf'thetop of the sprockets 4l, for gripping sheet on. the feed hoard 226,. in .which another .gripping means ,-is. disposed just below the: lower end ofatlie 'platen for .holding a.- isheet whileit is being printed, and .in .which anothergripping -means is: disposed on the front side vof -the sprockets -38V for discharging a `:printed sheet,- ithe remaining `gripping means .being/disposed on :thev rear stretches of the chains.

' The cani gear 2l gmakes one revolution to 4one revolution ofthe crank Ashaftl-:and the cainsfyand .Cain groove are soarranged andf'tiined with respectto each other and withxthecranlrs 8 that thefollowing cooperative action takes place, the mechanism operating in thefidiiiection indicated hy the arrows in;;Fig. l.

:The chains a4' are stationary 'during the printing and ,remain stationary until then-:io platen has Amoved rearwardly to the position shown yin* Eigs. 1,2,.'and 4. Previous. to .th yrearward. movement of *thel platen :into this position a :sheetz 3l `has :been registered on thefeed'hoard-126:by meanslof the side guide 105 27 and thexdrop'guides28` which have-been f inI .their `lower position. resting .on the extensions BQfor this purpose. .Thegrippers 58 of the .grhaping .means at fthe top of the -sprocketsil havefbeen sin; openaposition, .and 110 4when the bar .55 of thisA gripping vmeans Vpasses underithe vleading .edge fof: 4the sheet, projecting'fromthefront edge of the feed board in' registered position .as above deseribed,.a pairfofstationary studs 76 carried U5 on: the feed board are-:engaged by respective levers '161 .off-:this .gripping means, and these studs, by .reason ofzthe rearward finov-en'ient ofithe platenV and consequently -this l,gripping means, -causethese i levers :61.: to vpivot for- Kif* wardl-yA from; the 1.position `shown `in dotted :lines-2in iiFig.-f4.to"ztlie position shown in full lines in this igureto eloseuthe-.grippers and clamp Y the sheet. Innnediately the "drop guides Q8 fare-raised bythe cainiSS, as shown infigA, and. remain raised .until this sheet wism'oved Afrom under these. guides, the guides being 'lowered .after the sheet passes beyond .t-heisame;tof register; the f nextsheet. A`.Immedi- -f @dreier-tbesheet);i'fsliilredfendathe 'dwp guides 28 raised the cam groove 65 operating` as hereinbefore described actuates the chains 54 to move the aforementioned gripping means at the top of the sprockets i1 forwardly over the same and downwardly on the front stretch of the chains over the face of the platen, the gripped sheet being drawn over a roller 77 on the shaft i2 and downwardly over the face of the platen. Fig. 5 shows a gripping means as it is entered on the front stretch of the chains with a gripped sheet 31 being drawn off of the feed board under the raised drop guides 28. After the sheet is gripped the platen continues to move rearwardly7 this being permitted by reason of the gripping means at the top of the sprockets 41 moving as above stated, and then. moves forward toward impression. The movement of the chains is continued until the above designated gripping means reaches a position just below the lower edge of the platen in which position the sheet gripped thereby is on the platen in position for printing'. In this position the movement of the chains terminates, the succeeding gripping means being' then positioned at the top of the sprockets il preparatory to gripping the next sheet on the feed board and the drop guides 28 being lowered for the registry of the next sheet immediately after the preceding sheet has passed from under the same. The movement of the chains terminates when the platen is some distance from the form, and the cam 23 aetuates the sheet clamp 17 to move forwardly with the platen in spaced relation therewith to clear the gripping means moving over the platen until the movement of the chains terminates after which the sheet clamp clamps the sheet against the platen previous to the impression by means of the spring device 18.

The clamping surface of the sheet clamp 17 extends below the lower edge of the platen and in the movement of the sheet clamp to clamp a sheet on the platen engages the bar of the gripping means positioned justbelow the platen to move this gripping means rearwardly to aline the lower portion of the gripped sheet on the face of the platen, see Fig. 6, ledges 78 on the sides of the platen which support the chains to prevent the bars 55 from touching the face of the platen being curved rearwardly at the lower end of the platen to permit this movement of the bars 55. It will be observed that the springs -i-G operating on the slide blocks 45 serve to maintain the chains taut and permit this movement of the bars 55.

ln order to register the gripping means while gripping a sheet in position for printing the sheet clamp 17 is provided with laterally spaced formations 79 adapted to engage the gripper shaft 57 ofthe gripping means at the lower end of the platenfto register the gripping means lineally of its movement with clan'iping movement of the sheet clamp, and pairs of laterally spaced blocks 81 are secured on the outer surfaces of the bars 55 and are adapted when respective bars 55 are positioned at the lower end of the platen to oppositely engage the sheet clamp 17 with clamping movement of the sheet clamp to laterally register the bars See Figs. 1, 2. 7, and 8. Thus with clamping` movement of the sheet clamp 17 each gripping' means gripping a sheet in position for printing is registered so that accurate registry is assured, the sheets beingregistered as gripped by 'the gripping means, and the gripping means beingl then registered while gripping the sheets in position for printing.

After he sheet on the platen is clamped by the sheet clamp 17, further forward movement of the platen effects the impression of the sheet on the inked form 7. After the sheet is printed the platen again moves rearwardly away from the form the sheet c'lamp serving to strip the sheet from the form. After striinoing the sheet from the form the cam 23 separates the sheet clamp from the platen thus releasing the printed sheet and the gripping means gripping the printed. sheet. The platen then continues to move rearwardly until it again reaches the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 4 when the nent sheet registered on the feed board is gripped by the succeeding gripping means at the top of the sprockets li1 in the same manner as before described.

The nent intermittentmovement of the chains 5a is initiated immediately as the grippin g means at the top of the sprockets i1 grips a sheet on the feed board 28 and the d rop guides are raised as before described, and in this next movement as the gripping means at the top of the sprockets moves dow wardly over the platen and carries the nen'v sheet to the platen for printing, the gripping means at the lower edge of the platen and gripping the previously printed sheet moves downwardly and carries the printed sheet with it between suitable sheet guides 82 carried with the platen. As the movement of the chains reaches its end the gripping means gripping the printed sheet is positioned on the front side of the sprockets 38 and is actuated to open thel grippers thereof and release the printed sheet by stationary studs 83, carried by the side frames L, by reason of the movement of the chains causing the levers 61 to engage these studs to operate the saine to open the grippers, the levers 61 passing under these studs in further movement of the chains. See Fig. 9. Thus the printed sheet is released for discharge. A drum 8e secured to the shaft 3 between the sprockets 38 serves to project the leading edge of the released sheet forwardly and tangentially with respect to the sprockets 38 and to engage the sheet with stationary lll:

ifs

below the carrying guides 85,A which guide the sheet forwardly upon horizontal conveyor tapes 86 supported on pulleys 87 secured on transverse shafts 88 `iournaled in theside frames 2 and driven by a gear train 89 driven from the ca m gear 2l. These tapes as Vdriven carry the printed sheets forwardly for delivery in -a suitable manner. Top tapes 914 supported on pulleys 92 secured on transverse shafts 9 3 journaled in the side frames 2 and also driven by the gear train 89 serve to prevent the sheets from curling upzon the tapes 86. It will be observed that the printed sheets are conveyed from thev gripping means printed side up thus affording convenient inspection of the product during operation of the press.

In the operation of the press each gripping means in turn itl positioned atthe top of. the sprockets Lil and gripping Aa sheet on the feed board carries it to the platen for printing and after printing conveys the printed sheetl away'from the platen for discharge as is obvious,

The successive feeding'of the sheets in registry to the gripping means for vconveyance to position Vfor printing may be either effected by hand or by any suitable feedingmachine as is lobvious though the employment of la feeding machine ispreferred by reason of it being capable of feedingY at high speed.

While l, have herein shown and particularly described the preferred.embodiment of nay-'invention vI ldo not wishto be limited to the precise details of vConstruction shown as changes may' readily be madefwithout departingfr'om the spirit of my invention, but having thus described my inventionl claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent the following:

l. Inan oscillating platen 'printing press having the platen'v thereof mounted forpivetal movement on ahorizontal axisdisposed below the same the combination of sheet carrying `means carried with the platen, meansoperated by and in timed relation vviththe press mechanism fory operating said carrying means intermittently in one direc: tion in 1a closed 4path, about the platen and downwardly over the face thereof forfconveying successively' sheets downwardly to the platen for printing and after printing downwardly"from the platen for discharge, means for feeding successively sheets in registryto said carrying vmeans above the platen for conveyance ofthe sheets to the platen, and means for conveying the printed sheets from said carryingfmeans below the platen for delivery.

2. ln an oscillating :platen printingtpress having' the' platen thereof mounted for pivotal movement on a vhorizontal aXisdisposed same the combination ofy sheet means carried with the platen, means operated 'by and in timed relation with the combination of aplurality of sheet gripping, means, a iiexible endless carrier upon which saidl gripping means are mount.- ed at equally spaced intervalstherealong, means supporting said carrier for' lineal closed path movement for effecting a closed path movement of said gripping means about the platen of the press including a toothedrevoluble member mounted on'tlie pivotal axis of the platen for/driving 'the carrier and second re'voluble member carried with the platen adjacent its `outer end, means timed and operatedI with the press mechanisml for intermittently rotatingl said first mentionedrevoluble member in one direction for-effecting intermittent movement of the gripping means `for conveying successively sheets gripped by said grippiiigmeans to the platen forprinting andafter printing from the platen for discharge, andmeans for actuatingfvsaid grippiiigmeans at respective points in the path Athereof to ygrip the sheets and to release the same for dis charge.-r

4, yIn an" oscillating `platen printing press having 'the platen thereof mounted for .pivotal movement on a horizontalzaxis disposed below thc saine 'the combination of a. pairofendl-ess chains of-equal length, a plurality of grippine` means mounted on said/chains at equally spaced intervals there along and includin@ barssecured kto the chains and extendii g th between, .m supportingthe chainsfor lineal .closed movement in correspondi closed pa'tt respective sides of the pia en vfor a closed pathof movement of said 1 means about' the vplaten including of coaxial sprockets secured tto@ tl, rotatably mounted on the pivotal ,a the platen and a second pai): of coaxial sprockets carried with the, platen at itsiii')H per end, means timed with andl operated lby the press mechanismV for intermittently rotatingsaid first. i in the direction to effect, downward ino vement of the kgripping means '-over; the face of the platen VVfor `conveying" successively sheets, gripped kby said giippin j, means the` platen for printingand after printii fromy the platen vfor dischargev` and means mentioned pair ofspiocltets for actuating said gripping means to grip the sheets adjacent the upper end ot the platen ,and to release the same below the platen for discharge.

5. In a platen printing press the combination ot sheet carrying means, means tor operating said carrying means in timed relation with the press mechanism intermittently tor conveying successively sheets to position for printing and after printing from said position tor discharge, means tor feeding successively sheets in registry to said cai'rying means tor conveyance to printing position, and means tor registering said carrying means at said position tor printing as and tor the pui'pose described.

6. In a platen printing press provided with a sheet clamp operating to clamp sheet on the platen prior to and to release same atter the print-ing` thereof the combination of sheet carryine' means, means operated by and in timed relation with the press mechanism tor operating said carrying` means intermittently in one direction in-a closed path about the platen and downwardly over the tace thereot for conveying successively sheets to the platen tor printing and after printing from the platen tor discharge, means for feeding successively sheets in registry to said gripping means for conveyance to the platen, and means associated and operated with said clamp for registering said carrying means at said position for printing as and tor the purpose described. a

7. In a platen printing press the combination of a plurality ot sheet gripping means, means tor operating said gripping means in timed relation with the press mechanism intermittently in one direction and in succession in a' closed path lor. conveying successively sheets to position for printing and after print-ing away trom said position 'for discharge, means for feeding successively sheets in registry to .said gripping means tor conveyance to printing position, means Jfor actuating said gripping means at respective points in the path thereol` to grip t-he sheets and to release the same tor discharge, and means tor registering each gripping` means while gripping` a sheet in position for printing.

8. In a platen printing press provided with a sheet clamp operating to clamp a. sheet on the platen of the press prior to and to release the same after the printing` ther-coi the combination ot a plurality ot sheet gripping means, means tor operating said gripping means in timed relation with the press mechanism intermittently in one direction and in equally spaced succession in a closed path about the platen .tor con.- veying sheets successively to the platen tor printing and after printing trom the platen tor discharge, means for feeding successively sheets in registry to said gripping means tor conveyance to the platen, means tor actuating` said gripping means at respective points in the path thereof to grip the sheets and to release the same tor discharge, and means carried with the sheet clamp tor register g each gripping means while gripping` a sheet in position tor printing.

9. In an oscillating platen printing press having the platen thereoiC mounted tor pivotal movement on a horizontal anis disposed below the same and provided with a sheet clamp disposed tor pivotal movement on the axis oit the platen and operating` to clamp aA sheet on the platen prior to and to release the saine atter the printing thercoi the conibination ot a plurality ot sheet gripping means, an endless carrier upon which said gripping means are n'iounted at equally spaced. intervals therealong and adapted and carried with the platen tor lineal closed path movement for ettecting closed path movement oi said gripping means about the platen and downwardly over the tace thereot, means operated by and in timed relation with the press mechanism 'for ei'l'ecting intermittent movement ot said carrier in the direction to ei'lect downward movement ot' said gripping means over the platen to convey successively sheets downwardly to the platen tor printing and atter printing downwardly from the platen for discharge, a feed board ior feeding successively sheets in registry to said gripping means above the platen, means tor actuating said gripping means at respective points in the path thereot to grip the sheets and to release the same for discharge, and means carried by the sheet clamp for registering with clamping thereof each gripping means while gripping a sheetin position ior printing. n

l0. In an oscillating platen printing press the combination ot a flexible endless carrier carried with the platen orn the press, means supporting said carrier tor lineal' closed path movement including a toothed revoluble member disposed on the pivotal anis of the platen and engaged with the carrier for operating the same, and means tor rotating said revoluble member intermittently in one direction in timed relation with the press mechanism including a one way automatically engaging rotatory clutch device dis posed coaxially with said toothed revoluble member. l

ll. In an oscillating platen printing press the combination ot a ilexible endless carrier carried wit-h the platen ot the press, means supporting said carrier for lineal closed path movement including a toothed revoluble member disposed on the pivotal airis of the platen and engaged with the carrier tor operating the saine, a revoluble spur gear disposed on the axis of said revoluble member, a one way automatically engaging rotatory clutch connection between said gear and said toothed revoluble member, a reeiprocable rack meshing with said gear, and a revoluble member driven with the press mechanism for reciprocating said rack.

l2. ln an oscillating platen printing press having the platen thereotAl mounted for pivotal movement on a horizontal axis disposed below the same the combination of a pair of endless chains ot equal length, a plurality ot' gripping means mounted on said chains at equally spaced intervals there-along and including bars secured to the chains and extending therebetween, means supporting t-he chains `for lineal closed path in correspondingv closed paths at respective sides. of the platen for effecting a closed path of movement of said gripping means about the platen including a pair of coaxial sprockets secured together and rotatably mounted on the pivotal axis of the platen and a second pair of coaxial sprockets carried with the platen at its upper end, a revoluble spur gear disposed on the axis of said first mentioned pair ot sprockets, a one way automatically engaging rotatory toothed clutch connection between said gear and said first mentioned pair ot sprockets, a reciprocable rack meshing with said gear, a revoluble member driven in timed relation with the press mechanism for reciprocating said rack whereby to effect intermittent movement of said gripping means in one direction in their closed path and downwardly over the face of the platen for conveying successively sheets downwardly to the platen for printing and after printing downwardly from the platen 'tor discharge, and means for actuating said gripping means to grip the sheets adjacent the upper end of the platen and to release the same below the platen for discharge.

In witness whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 5th day of January, 1925.

CHARLES H. COCHRANE. 

